Accessing the venue

Live Theatre takes accessibility very seriously and wants to make sure that everyone can comfortably enjoy our shows. Below, we have listed our current access options, which we hope will make all audience members feel welcome and at home.

Venue access

Parking
The Quayside car park is 100 metres from the theatre and can be accessed from City Road and Trinity Gardens. This secure car park is open from 7am to midnight, costs 90p per hour and is free after 5pm. There is limited on-street parking on Broad Chare and nearby streets, and there are additional car parks nearby.

Access to Live Theatre
There is level access to Live Theatre from Board Chare. The main doors are automatic and the doors are double width.

Inside access
There is level access throughout the building, with a few low gradient ramps. There is lift access to three floors and adapted toilets on all levels. All toilets are level surface or ramped, and the downstairs accessible toilets have height adjusting sinks, rails and a hoist. Lighting levels are bright and there are baby change facilities in the ground floor accessible toilet.

The box office and reception desk is six metres from the front entrance. There is level access to reception from the entrance and the reception desk is low with a raised section for varied access. Lighting levels are bright and the hearing system is an induction loop.

Live Theatre is fully accessible and has the following facilities for visitors:

Baby changing area and nappy disposal bin

Restaurant serving hot and cold meals

Assistance and guide dogs welcome

Facilities for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people

Assistance available if required

Facilities for blind and partially sighted people

Male and female toilet facilities

Level access

A lift to all theatre spaces

Accessible toilets

Electric hoist in the downstairs toilet

Facilities for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people

We provide captioned performances

We provide BSL signed performances

Some staff have BSL training

Facilities for blind or partially sighted people

We provide audio described performances, which need to be booked in advance.

We provide touch tours, which need to be booked in advance.

There are two hearing assistance systems

There is a fixed loop system

There is an infrared Seinheiser system

Documents can be requested in Braille

Documents can be requested in large print

Other access information

There are spaces for wheelchairs in the cabaret area of the theatre

Wheelchairs are left with patrons, or can be stored by the Customer Service team

Assistance dogs are allowed in all areas

There are bowls of water available on request for assistance dogs

Staff receive disability training

Audio Described Performances Infrared system
Headsets are needed and used for designated Audio Described performances in our main theatre. For Audio Described performances only we can offer an in ear infrared hearing system for use by customers without hearing aids. Sennheiser headsets should be worn with the logo facing up towards the front.

There are two switches on the unit – an on/volume switch and a switch with three choices to choose what you are using the unit for

Stereo symbol – mix of show relay (what is said on stage) and audio description (commentary on the action on stage)

Position One – enhanced show relay (what is said on stage) in both ears

Position Two – audio description not show relay

This needs to be requested at the time of booking and is available from the Box Office when you arrive.

There is a Loop hearing aid system

An induction loop system is available in the Theatre for use with customers own hearing aids, technical requirements of the show permitting. There are seats in the auditorium that offer optimal sound quality using this system - are in fixed seating A and B 7 – 17 and the cabaret seats near these. Please advise the Box Office staff if you are using a hearing aid and they will seat you accordingly.

Please remember to turn your hearing aid to the T channel to access the system.

We are sorry that the system is not available in the Studio Theatre.

Accessible print
Leaflets and programmes produced by Live Theatre are available in a range of formats including Braille. Call (0191) 232 1232, email info@live.org.ukwith your request or speak to Customer Services staff.

Assisted performances
Live Theatre offers a range of assisted performances aimed at improving the theatre experience for all our audience members. These services are marked with the appropriate symbol on the event pages, (symbols BSL, Captioned or Audio Described).

Assisted interpretation is offered at no extra cost for service users, and do not affect the performance for other audience members.

British Sign Language
A BSL interpreter is positioned on or next to the stage to communicate in a non-verbal language.

Captioned
The words spoken by the performers are displayed as text on a screen, on or next to the stage, similar to television subtitles.

Audio described
A live commentary of the action on stage is described through personal headphones, between words spoken by the characters.

Touch tours
To complement an audio described show, this is a hands-on tour of the set, describing props, costumes, characters and the visual style of the show, especially for visitors with visual impairments. Touch Tours are a separate event and have to booked separately. They usually take place an hour before the main performance.

Internal hearing aid systems
An induction hearing loop system is available for all shows in the theatre for use with your own hearing aid. We can also provide in ear monitors and receiver to amplify the sound on stage.

Please let our box office know when booking that you plan to use the assisted interpretation so they can ensure that you are seated in the most appropriate place.

If you have any access needs which are not addressed on this page, or you have any questions, please contact us on (0191) 232 1232, by Typetalk on 18001 232 1232 or by email to tickets@live.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you.